Welded bolster construction



y 1958 w. G. BOESE ET AL 2,842,070

WELDED BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1952 \9 Franklin P/ldler &.

William G B0656 Attorney July 8, 1958 'w. e. BOESE ET AL 2,842,070

WELDED BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION Aitorney 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors Franklin R Adler &

William G. B066 6 Filed Jan. 19, 1952 y 3, 1958 w. e. BOESE ET AL 2,842,070

WELDED BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 19, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors L-F'r'anklin RAdler' 8a William G. B0656 By MTV/M Wm M At torn ey United States Patent WELDED BoLsTER CONSTRUCTION William G. Boese and Franklin P. Adler, Michigan City,

Ind., assignors to Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1952, Serial No. 267,282

8 Claims. (Cl. 105-414) This invention relates to railway car underframes and is primarily concerned with a means and method of reinforcing the joints fonned at certain points of attachment of a cross member to a center sill.

The principal object of the invention is to provide in a railway car underframe having a center sill and a cross member cover plate connected to the center sill and a cross member web plate connected to a cover plate and the center sill, a tie plate positioned at the corner of the web plate adjacent the cover plate and the center sill and welded to the web plate and the cover plate and the center sill to reinforce and prevent cracks originating in the joint formed by the web plate and the cover plate and the center sill.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a railway car underframe having a center sill and a cross member cover plate connected to the center sill, a cross member web plate connected to the cover plate and the center sill and the web plate being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill, and an arcuate or elbow-shaped tie plate positioned in the cut away corner of the web plate and welded to the web plate and the cover plate and the center sill to reinforce and prevent cracks from originating in the joint formed by the web plate and the cover plate and the center sill.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elbowshaped tie plate for a railway car underframe having a longitudinal twist therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elbowshaped tie plate for a railway car underframe having one end cut away beginning at the corner adjacent one side thereof inwardly to the other side.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie plate for a railway car underframe having a cross section shaped on an arc of a circle.

.An important object of the invention is to provide a method of securing a tie plate to a ecnter sill and to the web plate of a cross member.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a'railway car underframe;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l with the center sill and bolster top cover plate broken away and showing one form of tie plate;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the joint shown on the left hand side of Fig. 3 looking from the left hand side of the joint;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing only one joint which is similar to that seen on the left hand side of Fig. 3 with a modified form of tie plate secured in the joint; I

Fig. 6 is an end view looking from the left hand side of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing another modified form of tie plate secured in the joint;

Fig. 8 is an end view looking from the left hand side of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail side elevational view of the form of tie plate shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4;

Fig. 10 is an end view looking from the right hand side of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail side elevational view of the form of tie plate shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 12 is an end view looking from the right hand side of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail side elevational view of the form of tie plate shown in Figs. 7 and 8; and

Fig. 14 is an end view looking from the right hand side of Fig. 13.

In the art of railway freight car underframes it has been the practice heretofore to weld the corner of the bolster web plate adjacent the bolster top cover plate and the center sill directly to the bolster top cover plate and the center sill. The result was that three welds came together at the corner of the bolster web plate. The joint at this particular corner is highly stressed and the stresses are caused by external loads and also by the welding. Inspection of bolsters now in use has brought out the fact that when the car is heavily impacted, cracks originate in the joint at this corner and run into the various members. The invention proposes a means of preventing these cracks from starting in the joint at the corner of the bolster web plate and also to reinforce this joint which is comprised of the bolster top cover plate and the bolster web plate and the center sill. The corner of the bolster web plate is cut away and an elbow-shaped tie plate is positioned in the cut away corner. The bolster web plate and the tie plate are then welded to the bolster top cover plate. The bolster web plate and the bolster top cover plate and the tie plate are then welded to the center sill. The tie plate strengthens the bolster we'b plate where the cut out has weakened it and provides adequate attachment of the bolster web plate, bolster top cover plate, and the center sill.

In the drawings, 10 generally designates a railway freight car underframe having a center sill 11, and 12 generally designates a cross member or bolster. A bolster top cover plate 13 is positioned transversely of the underframe 10 and upon the center sill and extends the full width of the underframe. A first pair of vertically disposed spaced web plates 14 and 15 are positioned on one side of the center sill 11 and have their tops positioned against the underface of the bolster top cover plate 13 and secured thereto by welding and each of the first pair of web plates has one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto by welding. A second pair of vertically disposed spaced web plates 16 and 17 are positioned on the other side of the center sill 11 and have their tops positioned against the underface of the bolster top cover plate 13 and are secured thereto by welding and each of the second pair of web plates has one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto by welding. A bottom cover plate 18 is secured to the web plates 14 and 15 by welding and another bottom cover plate 19 is secured to the web plates 16 and 17 by welding. A king pin housing 20 is positioned in the center sill 11 and is secured thereto by welding, and plates 21 and 22 are positioned in alignment with the web plates 14 and 16 and the web plates 15 and 17, respectively, and these plates are welded to the king pin housing and to the center sill. A sole plate 23 is welded to the king pin housing 20 and the plates 21 and 22 and the bottom cover plates 18 and 19 and a body center plate 24 is welded to the sole plate 23.

The usual stringers 25 are welded to the bolster top cover plate, and a side sill 26 and a side sill reinforcement 27 are riveted to the end of the bolster 12 as best shown in Fig. 2. 7

Each of the web plates 14, 15, 16, and 17 is cut away at the corner 23 adjacent the bolster top cover plate 13 and the center sill ill to form a wall on the respective web plate concave in shape and extending from the end to the top of the web plate and a tie plate 29 curved in longitudinal cross section is positioned longitudinally of each web plate in the cut away corner 28 of the web plate in abutting relation with the wall of the web plate and extends between and bears against the bolster top cover plate and the respective web plate and the center sill and is welded to the bolster top cover plate and the respective web plate and the center sill. Referring specifically to Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 10, one form of the plate is shown and this is also the form of tie plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The elbow-shaped tie plate 29 has a transverse groove 30 in one portion and this portion extends in a horizontal direction and lies in a plane disposed at an angle less than 90 degrees above the horizontal, the exact angle being about 20 degrees, and another portion extends in a vertical direction and is made integral with the first named portion, all as best shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The elbow-shaped tie plate 29 is positioned longitudinally of the web plate and has one side positioned in the cut away corner 28 of the web plate, said one side of the tie plate extending about a third of the way through the thickness of the web plate, Said one side of the tie plate is welded to the web plate by a weld 8 which extends along the cut away corner of the web plate and a weld 9 extends along the outer face of the tie plate and the adjacent face of the web plate. One end of the tie plate 29 is welded to the center sill by a weld 31 which is started by the welder at the other side of the tie plate contiguous with said one end thereof. The welder then guides the Weld 31 in the groove 30 along said one end of the tie plate toward said one side thereof and toward the web plate and upon reaching the web plate proceeding down the web plate along said one end thereof to the bottom of the web plate. The other end of the tie plate 29 is welded to the top cover plate by a weld 32 which extends clear around the tie plate and the top cover plate is welded to the web plates by welds 33 and 34- which extend from the side sill end of the web plates to the tie plates 29.

Referring specifically to Figs. 5, 6, 11 and l2, another form of tie plate is shown. The tie plate 35 is curved in longitudinal cross section and has an end cut away at 36 beginning at the corner adjacent one side thereof, inwardly to the other side thereof, and this end is cut away at an angle of about 20 degrees all as best shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The elbow-shaped tie plate 35 is positioned longitudinally of the web plate in the cut away corner thereof with the end 36 abutting the bolster top cover plate and both sides of the tie plate extending beyond the web plate. One end of the tie plate 35 is welded to the center sill by a weld 37 and the weld 37 continues under the tie plate to the web plate. The other end of the tie plate 35 is welded to the top cover plate by a weld 38 which extends clear around the tie plate. A weld 4-!) begins at the side sill end of the web plate and secures the web plate to the top cover plate and proceeds along the outer face of the tie plate securing the outer face of the tie plate to one face of the web plate and then the weld proceeds down the end of the web plate to the bottom of the web plate. A weld 41 begins at the side sill end of the web plate and secures the web plate to the top cover plate and terminates at the tie plate. The outer face of the tie plate 35 is Welded to the other face of the web plate by a weld 42 which terminates at the center sill.

Referring specifically to Figs. 7, 8, 13 and 14, a third form of tie plate is shown. The tie plate 43 is curved in longitudinal cross section and this curved plate is in the shape of an arc of a circle and is positioned longitudinally of the web plate in the cut away corner thereof, the web plate abutting the tie plate midway of the width of the tie plate. One end of the tie plate 43 is welded to the center sill by a weld 44 and the weld 44 continues under the tie plate and terminates at one face of the web plate. The other end of the tie plate is welded to the top cover plate by a weld 45 beginning at said one face of the web plate around the tie plate and terminating at the other face of the web plate. A weld 46 begins at the side sill end of the web plate securing the web plate and the top cover plate together and continues until reaching the tie plate and then proceeds along the outer face of the tie plate securing the outer face of the tie plate to said one face of the web plate and then the weld proceeds down the end of the web plate to the bottom of the web plate. A weld 47 begins at the side sill end of the web plate securing the web plate and the top cover plate together and terminates at the tie plate. The outer face of the tie plate is welded to said other face of the web plate by a weld 48 which begins at the top cover plate and terminates at the center sill. The outerface of the tie plate contiguous with said one end thereof is welded to the center sill by a weld 49 which terminates at said other face of the web plate.

The cut away corner of the web plate has the same configuration as the outer face of the particular one of any of the three different forms of tie plates. Each of the three different types of tie plates is in the form of a solid mass elbow-shaped in longitudinal cross section and each tie plate has a substantial transverse dimension.

One mode of assembling the tie plates, the parts of the bolster and the center sill is as follows: Weld two tie plates in the cut away corners of two web plates and then weld the two web plates to a bottom cover plate and then weld two tie plates in the cut away corners of two more web plates and then weld a bottom cover plate to the latter two web plates. The four web plates are then welded to the bolster top cover plate. This subassembly consisting of four tie plates, four web plates, two bottom cover plates, and a top cover plate is dropped over the center sill. The sole plate and the body outer plate are then clamped onto the center sill. Finally, the four web plates and the four tie plates are welded to the center sill and the various other welding operations follow. Another mode of assembling the tie plates, the parts of the bolster and the center sill is to weld the tie plates to the bolster web plates and then weld the web plates to the bolster bottom cover plates. Then weld the web plates and tie plates to the center sill and finally weld the tie plates and the web plates to the bolster top cover plate. It is to be emphasized that the description of the 3 different forms of tie plates shown in Figs. 9, 10, ll, 12, 13, and 14 as being elbow-shaped is not limited to the elbow-shape but the 3 different forms of tie plates may take any shape which will accomplish the abutting relation of the ends of the tie plate with the bolster top cover plate and the center sill and bearing contact of the tie plate with the cut away corner of the bolster web plate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there have been provided three difierent forms of tie plates any one of which is adapted to be secured at the joint formed by the intersection of the center sill and the cross member cover plate and the cross member web plate, which avoids three welds coming together at said joint, serves to greatly strengthen said joint, and prevent cracks from originat ing at said joint and running into the various members.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underframe and upon the center sill, a vertically disposed web plate having its top positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, said web plate being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form a wall on the web plate extending from said one end to the top of the web plate, and a tie plate positioned in the cut away corner of the web plate in abutting relation with the wall and extending between and bearing against the cover plate and the web plate and the center sill, and welds securing the tie plate to the cover plate and the web plate and the center sill.

2. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underfrarne and upon the center sill, a vertically disposed web plate having its top positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, said web plate being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form a wall on the Web plate concave in shape and extending from said one end to the top of the web plate, and a tie plate curved in longitudinal cross section positioned longitudinally of the web plate in the cut away corner thereof in abutting relation with the wall and extending between and hearing against the cover plate and the web plate and the center sill, and welds securing the tie plate to the cover plate and the web plate and the center sill.

3. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underfrarne and upon the center sill, a pair of vertically disposed web plates on opposite sides of the center sill having their tops positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and each having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, each of said web plates being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form walls on the Web plates extending from said one end to the top of the web plates, and a pair of tie plates positioned in the cut away corners of the web plates in abutting relation with the walls of the web plates and the tie plates extending between and bearing against the cover plate and the respective one of the web plates and the center sill, and welds securing the tie plates to the center sill and to the cover plate and the respective one of the web plates.

4. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underframe and upon the center sill, a pair of vertically disposed web plates on opposite sides of the center sill having their tops positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and each having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, each of said web plates being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form walls on the web plates concave in shape and extending from said one end to the top of the web plates, and -a pair of tie plates curved in longitudinal cross section positioned longitudinally of the web plates in the cut away corners thereof in abutting relation with the walls of the web plates and the tie plates extending between and bearing against the cover plate and the respective one of the web plates and the center sill, and welds securing the tie plates to the center sill and to the cover plate and the respective one of the web plates.

5. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underframe and upon the center sill, a first pair of vertically disposed spaced web plates positioned on one side of the center sill and having their tops positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and each of the first pair of web plates having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, a second pair of vertically disposed spaced web plates positioned on the other side of the center sill and having their tops positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and each of the second pair of web plates having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, each of said web plates being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form walls on the web plates extending from said one end to the top of the web plates, and tie plates positioned in the cut away corners of the web plates in abutting relation with the walls of the web plates and extending between and bearing against the cover plate and the respective one of the web plates and the center sill, and welds securing the tie plates to the center sill and to the cover plate and to the respective one of the web plates.

6. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underfrarne and upon the center sill, a first pair of vertically disposed spaced web plates positioned on one side of the center sill and having their tops positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and each of the first pair of web plates having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, a second pair of vertically disposed spaced web plates positioned on the other side of the center sill and having their tops positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and each of the second pair of web plates having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, each of said web plates being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form walls on the web plates concave in shape and extending from said one end to the top of the web plates, and tie plates curved in longitudinal cross section positioned longitudinally of the web plates in the cut away corners thereof in abutting relation with the walls of the web plates and extending between and bearing against the cover plate and the respective one of the web plates and the center sill, and welds securing the tie plates to the center sill and to the cover plate and the respective one of the web plates.

7. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underframe and upon the center sill, a vertically disposed web plate having its top positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, the web plate being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form a wall on the web plate concave in shape and extending from said one end to the top of the web plate, and a tie plate curved in longitudinal cross section having a portion extending in a horizontal direction and lying in a plane disposed at an angle above the horizontal and a vertical portion lntegral with the first named portion and the tie plate being positioned longitudinally of the web plate in the cut away corner thereof in abutting relation with the wall and extending between and bearing against the cover plate and the web plate and the center sill and welded thereto.

8. In a railway car underframe having a center sill, a cover plate positioned transversely of the underfrarne and upon the center sill, a vertically disposed web plate having its top positioned against the underface of the cover plate and secured thereto and having one end positioned against the center sill and secured thereto, the web plate being cut away at the corner adjacent the cover plate and the center sill to form a wall on the web plate concave in shape and extending from said one end to the top of the web plate, and a tie plate curved in longitudinal cross section having a portion extending in a horizontal direction and lying in a plane disposed at an angle less than degrees above the horizontal and a vertical portion integral with the first named portion and the tie plate being positioned longitudinally of the web plate in the cut away corner thereof in abutting relation with the wall and extending between and 7 8 bearing against the coverplate and the web plate and 2,146,332 Deming Feb. 7, 1939 the center sill and Welded thereto. 2,242,727 Meyer May 20, 1941 References Cited in the file of this patent OTHER REFERENCES UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Article entitled New Factors To Be Considered in 836,133 Ostrander Nov. 20, 1906 the Design and Welding of Ships, by Milton Forman, in 1,037,049 Posson Aug. 27, 1912 the Iournal of Amen'can Welding Society, vol. 27, No. 1,531,824 Smith Mar. 31, 1925 9, September 1948, see pages 672-674 and particularly 1,840,512 Kling Jan. 12, 1932 1 Fig. 8 on page 673 and lines 8-14, column 1011 page 2,103,730 Lewis et a1. Dec. 28, 1937 674. (Copy in Patent Oflice Library, Ts-227. A1W45.') 

